Interest from potential new buyers of homes in England and Wales rose in March but activity in the housing market remained slow, surveyors suggest.

North Korean employees fail to report for work at the Kaesong complex, suspending one of the few points of co-operation with South Korea.

A consultation on plans to save £220m from the criminal legal aid bill - including cutting funding for prisoners to make complaints - is launched.

Retail sales slowed in March as the cold weather hit demand for summer clothing, the British Retail Consortium says.

Asia's emerging economies will pick up in 2013 but the recovery will remain fragile, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The French government says ministers must declare their assets by 15 April, in a new transparency drive sparked by a scandal over tax evasion.

Industrial production rose by more than expected in February, but the trade gap widened, official figures show.

Australian surfwear firm Billabong is to start talks over a possible takeover by a consortium led by its former US boss Paul Naude.